Telescoping lamp part



March 19, '1935. L. c. DOANE TELESCOPING LAMP PART Original Filed se t'. 2:5, 1950 INVENTOR Leroy C Doane BY ATTORNEY.

. Patented Mar. 19,1935

UNITED, STATES" PATENT OFFICE TELESCOPING LAMP PART oi Connecticut Application September 23, 1930, Serial No. 483,816

Renewed August 15, 1934 10 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) The present invention relates to telescoping lamp parts and is more particularly directed toward a lamp part adapted for use as combined mechanical and electrical connector or interme- 5 diate element in lamps.

In my'application Serial No. 483,814, filed September 23, 1930; which has matured to Patent Number 1,930,926dated October 1'], 1933, I have shown and describedasystem of lamp parts arll ranged for building up a wide variety of lamps out of a comparatively small number of component parts. These parts are arranged so that by the mere threading of them together the parts are assembled to form the structureof the I8 lamp and all the wiring is simultaneously completed from part to part so that a circuit is cn-- tinued to the lamp socket or other current consuming device.

The present invention relates more especially a to a telescoping lamp part adapted for use in this system, whereby the elevation of the superposed lamp parts may be adjusted relative to the supnorting base. Suchtelescoping parts are particularly well adapted for converting a candle type I floor lamp into a floor torchier. In the floor lamp the candles are surrounded by a shade and are generally at an elevation below the line of vision when onev is standing, but the floor torchier, on the other hand, employs a high wattage lamp to bulb and should be carried above the line of vi- $1011. By employing the telescoping lamp, part to be described herein one is enabled to convert the lamp from one. type to another and, at the same time, have the respective socket carriers at the SI desired elevation.

The accompanying drawing show one form-in which the invention may be embodied, it being understood that the form shown is merely illustrative of the inventionrather than limiting the 40 same. In the drawing: Figures 1 and lc are views illustrating the component parts of a floor lamp and floor torchier; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through 45 a. telescoping column; Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view throughthe terminal assembly at thelower end of the telescop- 50 ing column, the parts being separated; and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a threaded metallic bushing and an insulating bushing employed in the lower terminal assembly.

The lamp shown in Figure 1 employs a base,

II B, column 0, telescoping v intermediate part.

employed.

known as a standard or tube. T, and a socket carrier So of the candle type; the parts being proportioned about as they would appear in a, candle type floor lamp, the shade being omitted. Figure 1a, placed above Figure 1, illustrates the 5 position of the upper end of the telescoping column T extended to support an indirect lighting torchier unit U, .these two figures showing the relative height of the light sources in the two types of floor lamp. I

The base and the upper end of the intermediate elements have externally threaded parts indicated at 10, adapted to be received within'the in .ternally threaded sockets carried by the lower ends of the socket carriers and intermediate parts. These various parts are adapted'to. be threaded together to complete the assembly of the lamp, the wiring being. carried inside and concealed, all connections being completed as the parts are threaded together.

The telescoping tube T is shown in detail in 'the remaining figures of the drawing. This telescoping tube T has an outer tubular shell 11 and an inner tubular shell 12 adapted to be received within the outer shell. The lower end 13 of the outer shell 11 is threaded onto a terminal housing 14, shouldered asindicated at 15 and internally threaded as indicated at 16. The upperend 1'7 of the inner tubular member 12 is threaded as indicated and secured to a terminal housing 18, shouldered as indicated at 17 and internally threaded as indicated at 20.

The upper housing receives a terminal assembly. Three washers 21, 22 and 23 are received in the bottom of the housing. The upper two washers carry a rivet 24 secured to a wire-25 extending downwardly'as indicated. The other wire 26 of the duplex cord- 27 extends through a hole in the lower washer 23 and is secured to a lateral extension 28, carried by a split pin 29 which extends up through a central hole in the upper washer 21. The same parts are employed in the lower terminal assembly shown in Figure 5,, and the same reference characters are there An externally threaded bushing 30 has a noncircular flange 31- at the lower end, adapted to be received in a non-circular recess 32 in an insulating washer or bushing 33. This washer or bushing 33 is secured in place by a locking ring 34 fitting the non-circular portion of the .insulating bushing. The same insulating bushing and locking ring are employed in the. lower terminal assembly and are shown in Figures 5 and-6.

1n assembling these parts they are all passed into the terminal housing 18 and the locking ring 34 is tightened up, after which the threads are mutilated to prevent unthreading. A insulating liner 36, carrying a metal tube 37-, is then forced into the bushing 30, thereby providing an inner tubular-contact engaging the pin 29. This arrangement of concentric contacts .is also employed in the upper end otthe base andany other intermediate element appearing in the lamp to be assembled.

The inner tube 12 is slotted upwardly from the lower end, as indicated at 40, and is provided with an annular head 41. The duplex conductor 27 is spread apart, as indicated'a't 42, to pass by a guide or crossbar 43 which fits into the slots40. The duplex conductor then extends down through the lower end of the tube. It also passes through a ring 44, carried in the bead 41, to-maintain the slotted tube at its original diameter.

The lower ends offthe wires and 26 may be withdrawn from the lower terminal housing sufliciently to be secured to the rivet 24 and lateral extension 28, after which these parts may be pesed back into the terminal housing and the female threaded bushing 45 and insulating bushing 33 moved into position, whereupon the locking ring 34 secures the parts together as above described. provide an arrangement of concentric contacts at the lower end of the tube complementary to the contacts on the upper end. The outer tube 11 is provided with a ring46, tapped, as indicated at 47, to receive a screw 48,

the screw passing through a hole drilled in the When the telescoping tube is in collapsed position, as indicated in Figure 1, the excess wire is coiled within the upper part ofthe tube as indicated. When assembling a lamp with this telescoping tube, the lower end of the tube is threaded onto the supporting part, such as a base or column, while the upper end is adapted to receive a socket carrier or other superposed part. The parts are threaded tightly together and, owing to the slot and guide arrangement, the two tubes of the telescoping part cannot turn relative to one another. The presence oi the ring 44 provides a stop which prevents overextending the telescoping rod. If this should accidentally be done, however, the wires would be pulled away from the lower terminals, leaving these terminals completely insulated, so that no further damage would result. The telescoping rod may be secured in an adjusted position by tightening the locking ring 49.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, and I.wish it to be under stood that the particular form shown is but ,one

of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I'claim:

1. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lamps and the like, comprising two telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another so as to vary the over-all length of the connector, the tubes having means ifor preventing relative rotation, terminal assemblies carried by the exposed ends oi the tubes, one terminal assembly including an internally threaded, insulatedly supported conducting ring formingone terminal and an axially disposed pin forming the otherv terminal, while the other terminal assembly includes an externally threaded, insulatedly supported tubular conductor within which is an insulatedly supported,'axially disposed receptacle 'so as to vary the over-all length of the connector,

terminal assemblies at the exposed ends of the tubes, each. including concentrically disposed terminals, a. duplex conductor housed within the tubes and connecting the terminals at one end with those of the other end, the duplex conductor being long enough to permit the extension of the connector, and means to prevent relative rotation between the tubes.

3. A combined electrical and mechanical contubes, each including concentrically disposed terminals, a duplex conductor housed within the tubes and connecting the terminals at one end with those of the other end, the duplex connector being long enough to permit the extension of the connector, means to prevent relativerotation between the tubes, and a friction device for securing the telescoping tubes in adjusted:

position. r

4. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lamps and the like, comprising two telescoping tubes slidable relative to, one another so as to vary the over-all length of the connector,

terminal assemblies at the exposed ends of the tubes, each including concentrically disposed terminals, a duplex conductor housed within the tubes and connecting the .terminals at one end with those of the other end, the duplex conductor being long enough to permit the extension of the connector, means to prevent relative rota- 'with those of the other end, the duplex conductor being long enough to permit the'extension of the connector, the inner tube being slotted, and a:

guide secured within the outer tubeand occupying the slot' to prevent relative rotation of the tubes.

6. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lamps and the like,-comprising 'two telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another so as to vary the over-all length of the connector, terminal assemblies at the exposed ends of the tubes, each including concentrically disposed terminals, a duplex conductor housed within the tubes and connecting the terminals atone end with those of the other end, the duplex conductor being long enough to permit the extension of the the tubes, and a ring carried by the lower end of the inner tube to prevent collapsing thereof and to limit the amount the tube may be withdrawn.

7. A combined electrical and mechanical connector tor lamps and the like, comprising two telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another so as to vary the over-all length of the connector, terminal assemblies at the exposed ends of the tubes, each including concentrically disposed terminals, a duplex conductor housed within the tubes and connecting the terminals at one end with those of the other end, the duplex conductor being long enough to permit the extension ot. the connector, means to prevent relative rotation between the tubes, and a ring threaded on the outer tube and carrying packing to secure the tube in extended position.- 1

8. In an electrical appliance, a tube having one end secured to a terminal assembly having two terminals, one in the form of an insulatedly supported, threaded tubular conductor and the other in the form of an axially disposed, insulatedly supported conductor, the tube being slotted from the opposite end toward the terminal assembly, a

' slider carried in the slots, and a duplex conductor secured to the terminals and extending out through the other end of the tube, the duplex conductor being secured to the slider and coiled within the tube between the slider and the terminal assembly.

9. In an electrical appliance, a tube having one end secured to a terminal assembly having two terminals, one in the form of an insulatedly supported, threaded tubular conductor and the other in theform of an axially disposed, insulatedly supported conductor, the tube being slotted from the opposite end toward the terminal assembly, a slidercarried in the slots, a duplex conductor secured to the terminals and extending out through the other end of the tube, the duplex conductor being securedto the slider and coiled within the tube between the slider and the terminal assembly, an outer tube telescopically receiving the first tube and secured to the slider to prevent rotation of the tubes, a housing carried by the end of the outer tube and a terminal assembly carried therein and secured to the opposite end of the duplex conductor.

10. An electrical appliance comprising two telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another to vary the over-all length of the appliance and, taken together, forming an outer tubular element, the tubes carrying concentrically arranged terminals at the exposed ends thereof,,,the outer terminals comprising male and female threads,

while the inner terminal members comprise a pin and a socket, conductors enclosed within the tubular element and connecting the terminals at one end with those at the otherend, the'terminals at each end being juxtaposed to cooperate with a pair. of terminals similar tothose at the opposite end and carried by another appliance, means limiting the extent to which the tubes may be adjusted telescopically and for preventing relative rotation, and a clamp for securing the v parts in adjusted position. v

, LEROY C. DOANE. 

